This morning, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood announced his intention to step down from his position as soon as his successor is confirmed. Reconnecting America thanks him for his work and will be sorry to see him go. Secretary LaHood has been a champion for transportation policies that will benefit every American, whether they use roads, buses, rails, bicycles, or their own two feet to get where they need to go.

The Wall Street Journal’s April 30 opinion piece, “The New Earmarkers: Cost Analysis for Transit Projects Gives Way to ‘Social Equity’”, demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of how the Federal Transit Administration evaluates proposed transit projects under its New Starts grant program. The piece implies that proposed rules issued earlier this year would “do away with … comparative cost analysis” and would instead give more weight in the evaluation process to “social equity and environmental considerations.” This assertion is wrong on both counts.

The U.S. Department of Transportation will continue its webinar series next week. On Monday, Aug. 22, the webinar will discuss the expectations for project readiness and NEPA. On Wednesday, Aug. 24, the webinar discuss the application process, public private partnerships and credit assistance through TIFIA challenge grants in the next round of TIGER Discretionary Grants.

The U.S. Department of Transportation's next webinar on the TIGER Grant process will discuss the expectations for the Benefit-Cost Analysis requirement in the next round of TIGER Discretionary Grant applications. The on-line webinar will be held from 1pm to 2:30 pm EST. There is no charge to attend, but advance registration is required. Register here.

Today the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced the third round of funding in the popular TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) competitive grant program, which will provide $527 million for innovative, job-creating transportation projects. At least $141 million will go to projects in rural areas. Eligible projects must promote economic competitiveness, improve energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve safety, quality-of-life and working environments in communities. Unlike last year, no planning grants will be awarded this year and all the funding will be for project implementation. Eligible applicants, which include local governments, transit agencies, and metropolitan planning organizations, may submit up to three applications for consideration as the lead applicant. Additionally, any applicant applying for a TIGER TIFIA Payment must also submit a TIFIA letter of interest along with their application.

Last year, the Obama administration launched a first-of-its-kind effort to break down the walls between agencies that had, in the past, inhibited cooperative efforts to accomplish shared goals.The Partnership for Sustainable Communities, which brought together Housing and Urban Development, the Department of Transportation and the Environmental Protection Agency, began in June 2009 with the goal of targeting resources to help communities strengthen their economies by developing more sustainably, removing regulatory and policy barriers to make it easier for state and local governments to access federal resources, and aligning the agencies' policies and priorities.

[Editor's Note: Reconnecting America is an active participant in the sustainable communities movement and a strong supporter of the new federal Partnership for Sustainable Communities. When we learned of the Initiative for Sustainable Communities and States we asked them to tell us little about their work. Here's what they had to say.]

The FREIGHT Act provides a comprehensive, systemic approach to infrastructure investment that addresses the nation’s commerce needs while providing a solid foundation to help our nation meet its energy, environmental and safety goals. The bill also calls for the creation of a new National Freight Infrastructure Grants initiative – a competitive, merit-based program with broad eligibility for multimodal freight investment designed to focus funds where they will provide the most public benefit.

“Poor planning and underinvestment in our transportation infrastructure has led to increased congestion…

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The Half-Mile Circles blog is a place to share information about recent research, innovations and other issues related to TOD and livable communities. We also invite experts to talk about their work. Combined with Jeff Wood's The Other Side of the Tracks, the Half-Mile Circles blog is an opportunity for a daily dose of TOD, and allows you to weigh in with your own opinions. Usual blog rules apply; please keep the comment threads civil. To submit an expert article, contact Jeff Wood